The Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) is a non-profit non-government organization with the mission of leading the development of media and communication expertise in Asia within the broad framework of economic, social, and cultural progress.

Established in 1970, AMIC exists to encourage ethical and social responsibility of the media to support democratic access and participation in media development and production, and to provide opportunities for empowerment of disadvantaged sectors in the media environment.

Beginning today, July 14, up to July 17, 2008, AMIC will be holding its 17th Annual Conference at the historic landmark Manila Hotel. The conference is co-organized with the Philippine Association of Communication Educators Foundation (PACE). With academics, media industry professionals, government agencies, policymakers, regulators, UN agencies, donors, research groups, civil society organizations, independent consultants and students in attendance, the conference will focus on the theme "Changing Media, Changing Societies: Media and the Millennium Development Goals."

The key focus of this conference will be to see how an active and vibrant media can help in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs are a set of eight shared goals, responding to the world’s main development challenges, which both developed and less developed nations hope to achieve by 2015. The year 2008 will be around the half-time mark to the deadline year of 2105, at which point the eight MDGs should have been reached. As today’s media, including the digital media, shapes public opinion, which in turn shapes an individual’s perception of the world, the conference aims to respond to several questions that include how these have helped media in the achievement of the MDGs? Has knowledge sharing helped developing countries develop effective strategies to address and reach the MDGs? The 17th AMIC Annual Conference also includes paper presentations on topics such as media and youth; media, conflict, and crises; new media and digital technology; and media, democracy, and human rights.

We congratulate the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre led by its Chairman, Dr. Ang Peng Hwa, Officers and Members, on the occasion of the 17th AMIC Annual Conference and wish them success in all their endeavors. To the foreign participants, we wish them a fruitful and an enjoyable stay in our country.